Not your growing up variety but economic growth. Wherever growth is mentioned in the media it’s almost invariably depicted as a good thing. But is it? It is certainly a good thing for bankers, companies and business people but not so for the man in the street (or woman!) or for families, their children or their grandchildren. Growth means more factories, more pollution, less green fields, less wild animals and more greenhouse gasses. The sensitive issue of a growing world population needs to be tackled to restore the balance between humans and nature.

My Headmaster used to hold a general studies class at the school. He was rather pompous and although the lectures were interesting most of it was over my head. At the end of the talks he would ask the pupils if they had any questions and he would confidently answer them all. When I told my mother about him she said “ask him this question – what is communism? – That should take the wind out of his sails!” At the next lecture I was very nervous and when he finished I put my hand up and asked him the question. He gasped and paused for a while then proceeded to answer the question. He talked for some length but I didn’t understand him. When I told my mother she was pleased that it had the desired effect! Has Vladimir Putin finally answered this question?

Sometimes on holiday if I forget to treat my legs with insect repellent I would return to the hotel to find that they are covered in red blotches! These were cause by mosquitoes secretly landing on my skin, puncturing it and sucking blood out of the veins. This is what they live on and it’s a scrumptious meal for them. Apart from the itching and the chance of getting malaria it’s an annoyance that they have such skill to get away with it without my noticing. But now I have the chance to get my own back! The E.U. in its infinite wisdom have now allowed human food to contain insects – dead of course. The new ruling came into force on the 1st January this year. I can’t wait to open my first can to taste how delicious they are and with a bit of luck there may even be some maggots thrown in as well!

GREAT! to see that the ‘old’ U.K. passport is making a comeback. But because of modern technology (fitting in machines etc) it can’t be exactly like it was. But for those who yearn for the real McCoy, make a wallet and put your new pseudo ‘old’ passport in it! This wallet is made from cardboard taken from a street map and the new passport slips inside. A piece of plastic is stapled to the inside back to keep it in place. The image is copied from the Net and pasted on the front – voila! Identity back!

The P.C. brigade has invaded the British forces; Notices have gone up at a military academy advising the use of gender-neutral words to comply with “modern sentiments”. “They include saying “human resources” instead of “manpower” and “humanity” as opposed to “mankind”.” Shouldn’t it be; “hu resources” and “huity” respectively? I’d imagine that women who’ve been abused or feel undervalued or disrespected would be more offended by the way they are TREATED rather than the traditional language which is used. As for the word “chaps”, any civilised organisation would address a mix-gender group with “ladies and gentlemen” as they always have.

In ancient Greek legend, son of Theiodamas (king of the Dryopians in Thessaly), favourite and companion of Heracles on the Argonautic expedition. Having gone ashore at Cios in Mysia to fetch water, he was dragged down by the nymphs of the spring in which he dipped his pitcher. Heracles sought him in vain; afterward, in memory of Heracles’ threat to ravage the land if Hylas was not found, the inhabitants of Cios each year on a stated day roamed the mountains, shouting aloud for Hylas. The story was a favourite of Hellenistic Greek poets, such as Apollonius of Rhodes, Theocritus, and Nicander, and was also told by the Latin elegist Propertius.

“Space constraints are one reason, but curatorial choices also play a role. “Would we call these choices “censorship”?”

They could be; It may be better to store all the artworks in a computer where the works for a display could be randomly selected by the computer. This would also give “not worthy” pieces a chance to see the light of day. Oh, and the reason why the photo was taken down and the painting not was probably because the photo was of a real child and the painting just a fantasy. [Pyethon]

Whatever ones’ opinion of Donald Trump is, as democratically elected president of the United States he should be afforded the same reception as previous presidents. To deny him this on the grounds of possible social unrest is submitting to bullying. Just because we invite him to meet the Queen with all the pomp and ceremony doesn’t mean that we endorse his views.